Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawSeven’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawSeven’. The new cultivar is primarily characterized by its large, sweet tasting fruit, early harvest maturity, and resistance to powdery mildew is disclosed.

Genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘DrisStrawSeven’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivardesignated ‘DrisStrawSeven’ and botanically known as Fragaria×ananassa.This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Monterey, Calif. in June,2003 and originated from a cross between the female proprietary parent‘77G1’ (unpatented) and the male parent ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 14,771). The original seedling of the new cultivar wasasexually propagated at a nursery in Shasta County, Calif.‘DrisStrawSeven’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwentfurther testing at a nursery in Hillsborough, Fla. for four years. Thepresent invention has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the newcultivar at various stages of development as nearly true as it ispossible to make in color reproductions. The photographs were taken from5-month-old plants.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including fruit at various stages ofdevelopment.

FIG. 2 shows leaves of the plant with three leaflets.

FIG. 3 shows the upperside of several of the flowers.

FIG. 4 shows the whole fruit.

FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of ‘DrisStrawSeven’ is based on observationstaken from the 2003 to 2008 growing seasons in Hillsborough, Fla. Thisdescription is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations,color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate fromthe stated values and descriptions depending upon variation inenvironmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions.‘DrisStrawSeven’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The botanical description of ‘DrisStrawSeven’ was taken from5-month-old plants. Color terminology follows The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, London (RHS) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Table 1 shows selected plant characteristics of the new variety comparedwith plant characteristics of ‘Driscoll Atlantis’, (U.S. Plant Pat. No.16,475) and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,298). Plantcharacteristics include plant height, petiolule length, stipule width,inflorescence position relative to foliage, flower size, fruit trussdiameter, and fruit size.

TABLE 1 ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSeven’ Atlantis’Sanibel’ Plant height 20.9 19.8 20.2 (cm) Petiolule length 1.394 1.4511.626 (cm) Stipule width 0.420 0.087 0.112 (cm) Inflorescence AboveBetween above Between beneath position rela- and level with and levelwith tive to foliage Flower size Medium Between medium Large and largeFruit truss 0.522 0.423 0.404 diameter (cm) Fruit size Large MediumBetween large and very large

Table 2 shows plant characteristics of the new variety compared withplant characteristics of the commercial varieties ‘Driscoll Atlantis’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,475) and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.16,298). Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, number ofcrowns per plant, habit, density of individual plant and vigor.

TABLE 2 ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSeven’ Atlantis’Sanibel’ Plant height 20.9 19.8 20.2 (cm) Plant diameter 35.5 38.9 38.7(cm) Number of 3 3 2 crowns/plant Habit Flat globose Flat globose FlatDensity of Medium Medium to Dense Medium individual plant Vigor MediumMedium Strong

Table 3 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared withleaf characteristics of ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’. Leafcharacteristics include terminal leaflet length and width incentimeters, length to width ratio, number of teeth per terminalleaflet, shape of teeth, color of upperside and underside of leaf, leafshape in cross section, leaf blistering, leaf glossiness, number ofleaflets, terminal leaflet margin, terminal leaflet length to widthratio and shape of leaf apex and base.

TABLE 3 Leaf ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSeven’Atlantis’ Sanibel’ Terminal leaf- 7.97 7.89 8.56 let length (cm)Terminal leaf- 7.96 8.01 8.47 let width (cm) Terminal leaf- 1.0 1.0 1.0let length/ width ratio No. teeth/ter- 23 23 22 minal leaflet Shape ofteeth Rounded Between obtuse Rounded and rounded Color of upper- RHS147A RHS 137A RHS 131B side of leaf Dark yellow- Dark green Dark greengreen Color of under- RHS 138B RHS 140D RHS 142C side of leaf Mediumgreen Light green Light green Leaf shape Slightly concave Betweenslightly Slightly concave in cross section concave and flat Leafblistering Strong Medium Between medium and strong Leaf glossinessMedium Weak Medium No. leaflets More than three Three only Three only(up to 5 out of 10 leaves) Terminal leaf- Flat Flat Flat let marginTerminal leaf- As long as broad As long as broad As long as broad let:length/ width ratio Terminal leaf- Orbicular Ovate Between oval and letshape ovate Terminal leaf- Rounded Obtuse let base shape Terminal leaf-Rounded Rounded Rounded let apex shape

Table 4 shows information about the petiole, the petiolule, the bract,and the stipule of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and‘Driscoll Sanibel’. This includes petiole length in centimeters, petiolediameter in centimeters, petiole pubescence, pose of hairs on thepetiole, color of the petiole, color of the petiolule, petiolule lengthin centimeters, petiolule diameter in centimeters, bract frequency perpetiole, stipule length in centimeters, stipule width in centimeters,and stipule pubescence.

TABLE 4 ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSeven’ Atlantis’Sanibel’ Petiole length 12.7 13.7 15.3 (cm) Petiole 0.456 0.430 0.455diameter (cm) Petiole Between medium Dense Medium pubescence and densePetiole pose Between upwards Outwards Between of hairs and outwardsoutwards and downwards Petiole color RHS 144D Light RHS 145C Light RHS145D Light yellow-green yellow-green yellow-green Petiolule color RHS144D Light RHS 145C Light RHS 145D Light yellow-green yellow-greenyellow-green Petiolule length 1.394 1.451 1.626 (cm) Petiolule dia-0.237 0.213 0.233 meter (cm) Bract 2 2 2 frequency Stipule length 3.83.7 3.9 (cm) Stipule width 0.420 0.087 0.112 (cm) Stipule Medium DenseMedium pubescence Stipule antho- Medium cyanin color- ation

Table 5 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’. These characteristicsinclude the number of stolons, average number of daughter plants, theanthocyanin coloration of the stolons, the thickness of the stolons, andthe pubescence of the stolons.

TABLE 5 ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSeven’ Atlantis’Sanibel’ Stolon Number Many Average number of 55 53 52 daughter plantsStolon Anthocyanin Medium Between weak and Strong medium StolonThickness Medium Medium Medium Stolon Pubescence Sparse Medium Medium

Table 6 shows inflorescence characteristics of the new cultivar comparedto ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’. These characteristicsinclude inflorescence position relative to foliage, relative flowersize, flower diameter in centimeters (measured from petal tip to petaltip), petal shape, relative spacing of petals, petal apex, base andmargin, petal length in centimeters, petal width in centimeters, petallength to width ratio, number of petals, petal color, calyx diameter incentimeters (measured on back of flower from sepal tip to sepal tip),diameter of calyx relative to corolla, diameter of inner calyx relativeto outer, sepal shape, apex and margin, sepal length in centimeters(measured from sepal tip to point of attachment to receptacle), sepalwidth in centimeters, number of sepals, receptacle color and anthercolor.

TABLE 6 ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSeven’ Atlantis’Sanibel’ Inflorescence Above Between level Between beneath position rel-with and above and level with ative to foliage Flower size MediumBetween medium Large and large Flower di- 2.238 2.369 2.070 ameter (cm)Petal shape Orbicular Orbicular Orbicular Petal spacing OverlappingOverlapping Between touching and overlapping Petal apex Rounded RoundedRounded shape Petal margin Entire Entire Entire Petal base RoundedRounded Rounded shape Petal length 1.043 1.248 1.166 (cm) Petal width1.081 1.302 1.188 (cm) Petal length/ As long as broad As long as broadAs long as broad width ratio Typical and ob- 6 5 6 served petal numberPetal color RHS 155D RHS 155C RHS 155C White White White Calyx diameter2.789 2.871 2.997 (cm) Calyx diameter Between smaller Between sameBetween same relative to and same size size and larger size and largercorolla Inner calyx Same size Same size Larger diameter re- lative toouter Sepal shape Elliptical Elliptical Elliptical Sepal apex ConvexConvex Convex shape Sepal margin Entire Entire Entire Sepal length 0.9891.040 1.172 (cm) Sepal width 0.508 0.713 0.637 (cm) Typical and 12 11 11observed sepal number Receptacle RHS 3A RHS 149A RHS 149B color Mediumyellow Medium yellow Medium yellow green green Anther color RHS 7A RHS9A RHS 9A Dark yellow Dark yellow Dark yellow

Table 7 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’. These characteristicsinclude fruiting truss length in centimeters, fruiting truss diameter,number of berries per truss, fruiting truss attitude, fruiting trusscolor, fruit length in centimeters, fruit truss width in centimeters,fruit length to width ratio, fruit hollow length and width incentimeters, fruit weight in grams, relative fruit size, predominantfruit shape, difference in shape between primary and secondary fruits,band without achenes, unevenness of fruit surface, fruit skin color,evenness of fruit color, fruit glossiness, insertion of achenes, achenecoloration (sunward and shaded sides of berry), insertion of calyx, poseof calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, adherence ofcalyx, firmness of flesh, color of the fruit flesh, evenness of theflesh color, distribution of flesh color, hollow center, sweetness offruit, acidity of fruit, texture of fruit when tasted, time offlowering, harvest maturity, type of bearing, grams of fruit per plant.

TABLE 7 ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSeven’ Atlantis’Sanibel’ Fruiting truss 22.2 22.7 19.7 length (cm) Fruiting truss 0.5220.423 0.404 diameter (cm) Number of 3 3 1 berries per fruiting trussFruiting truss Between erect Prostrate Prostrate attitude and semi-erectFruiting truss RHS 144D RHS 145B RHS 144B color Light yellow Lightyellow Light yellow green green green Fruit length 4.890 4.200 5.180(cm) Fruit width 3.720 3.640 4.610 (cm) Fruit length/ 1.3 1.2 1.1 widthratio Fruit length/ Longer than Longer than Longer than width ratiobroad broad broad Fruit hollow 2.130 1.880 2.310 length (cm) Fruithollow 0.420 0.850 0.790 width (cm) Fruit hollow 5.1 2.2 2.9length/width ratio Fruit weight (g) 26.7 23.8 31.8 Relative fruit LargeMedium Between large size and very large Predominant Conical ConicalConical fruit shape Difference in Slight Slight Slight shape betweenprimary & sec- ondary fruits Band without Narrow Absent or very Narrowachenes narrow Unevenness of Medium Between weak Medium fruit surfaceand medium Fruit skin RHS 46A RHS 45B RHS 43A color Dark red Medium redMedium red Evenness of Even Even Even fruit color Fruit glossinessBetween medium Strong Strong and strong Insertion of Level with Levelwith Level with achenes surface surface surface Achene color- RHS 145ALight RHS 151D Light RHS 150C Light ation - shaded yellow-greenyellow-green yellow-green side of berry Insertion of Level Level Levelcalyx Pose of calyx Spreading Between Between segments spreading andspreading and reflexed reflexed Size of calyx in Between same Betweensame Larger relation to size and larger size and larger fruit Adherenceof Strong Strong Strong calyx Firmness of Between medium Firm Mediumflesh and firm Color of RHS 40B RHS 42B RHS 40C the flesh Medium redMedium red Medium red Evenness of Between uneven Slightly unevenSlightly uneven flesh color and slightly uneven Distribution of Marginaland Marginal and Marginal and flesh color central central central Hollowcenter Small Medium Medium Sweetness Strong Strong Strong AcidityBetween weak Medium Medium and medium Texture when Fine Medium Finetasted Time of Medium Very early Early flowering Harvest matur- EarlyDecember Late November Late November ity (50% of to late April tomid-March to mid-March plants with ripe fruit) Type of Not everbearingPartially Partially bearing everbearing everbearing Grams of fruit/ 402360 448 plant

Table 8 shows pest and disease characteristics of the new cultivarcompared to ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’.

TABLE 8 ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Pest or Disease ‘DrisStrawSeven’ Atlantis’Sanibel’ Xanthomonas Susceptible Moderately Moderately fragariaesusceptible susceptible Powdery mildew Resistant Susceptible Susceptible

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL CULTIVARS

When ‘DrisStrawSeven’ is compared to the proprietary female parent‘77G1’ (unpatented), ‘DrisStrawSeven’ is a short-day plant, whereas‘77G1’ is a day-neutral plant.

When ‘DrisStrawSeven’ is compared to the male parent ‘DriscollCamarillo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,771), ‘DrisStrawSeven’ is a globoseplant that is not everbearing, whereas ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ is a flatglobose plant that is fully everbearing. In addition, the leaf shape incross section of ‘DrisStrawSeven’ is slightly concave and‘DrisStrawSeven’ has more than three leaflets. The leaf shape in crosssection of ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ is concave and ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ hasonly three leaflets. Further, the fruiting truss attitude in‘DrisStrawSeven’ is between erect and semi-erect, whereas it isprostrate in ‘Driscoll Camarillo’.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant as described andshown herein.